Attaching means for timepiece dials



H. COLOMB 1,886,166

ATTACHING MEANS FOR TIMEPIECE DIALS Filed Sept. 6, 1930 Nov. 1, 1932.

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A ITORNE Y6 Patented Nov. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES HENRI COLOMB, F TAVANNES, SWITZERLAND ATTACHING MEANS FOR TIMEPIECE DIALS Application filed September 6, 1930, Serial No. 480,212, and in Switzerland September 9, 1929.

This invention relates to attaching means for timepiece dials and more particularly to a device for attaching watch dials provided with dial feet to the movement of the Watch.

In usual constructions of this type there is provided a rotatable arbor accessi 1e from the side of the bridges of the movement and carrying an eccentric adapted to act on the dial foot and to maintain the dial in its position by exerting a pressure on the foot. Such devices are extremely practical since a simple rotation of the arbor secures the dial in its position or permits withdrawal thereof from 5 the movement. Also the arbor being accessible from the side of the bridges, the movement need not be removed from the case to detach the dial. Generally the rotatable arbor is provided with a pivot below the eccentrio and turning in a corresponding seat in the movement. As the eccentric is situated above its pivot, the reaction exerted from the dial foot on the eccentric has the tendency to bring the arbor into an inclined position so that this arbor will never be centered in its corresponding opening in the bridge and it will be difiicult to remove this bridge, for instance during a watch reparation, but for replacing the bridge it is always necessary to loosen the eccentric.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for attaching dial plates of watches to the movement which is free of the above mentioned inconveniences by arranging the various parts in such a manner that the entire side thrust exerted by the dial foot on the eccentric is received by the pivot of the eccentric, thereby avoiding an axial inclination of the arbor carrying the eccentric.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the dial securing means.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified arrangement.

In Figures 1 and 2, 1 indicates the dial of a watch and 2 one of the dial feet. 3 is the movement plate and 4 a bridge secured to the plate. The upper face of the plate 3, on the side of the bridge 4, is provided with two recesses 5 and 6. The recess 6 contains an annular spring 8 and extends into a passage 7 traversing the plate 3 and adapted to receive the foot 2 of the dial. The bottom of the recess 5 is provided with a central projection forming a pivot 9. An arbor 10 is inserted through a'perforation 15 in the bridge 4 and is provided on its lower end facing the dial with an eccentric shoulder 11. The lower end face of thearbor 10 has an axially extending recess 12 provided therein to receive the pivot 9. The eccentric shoulder 11 of the arbor 10 is disposed on the same height as the pivot 9.

When the dial is separated from the watch,

the spring 8 and the arbor 10 occupy a position as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The foot 2 of the dial can therefore be inserted freely into the passage 7; then a screw v driver is engaged in the slot 13 of the arbor 10 and the latter is turned into the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 so that the shoulder 11 acts on the spring 8 and presses it slightly into the relatively soft material of the dial foot 2.

Since the eccentric 11 and the pivot 9 are disposed in the same horizontal plane in which is situated the force of reaction exerted by the spring 8 on the eccentric 11, this reaction results only in a slight parallel displacement of the arbor 10 which is inserted with small play in its corresponding opening in the bridge 4 and does not produce an axial inclination of the arbor as it is the case in known constructions of this kind where the eccentric is situated above its pivot.

In the modification shown in Figure 3 the eccentric 11 acts directly on the dial foot 2 without the intermediary of a spring and the pivot 14 is not integral with the plate 3 as before but is pressed into an opening formed in the plate.

I claim 1. In a watch movement having a movement plate and a bridge, said bridge having a perforation therein, a dial provided with a dial foot extending through the movement plate, a rotatable arbor penetrating said perforation and being provided with an axial recess, eccentric means on said arbor adapted to exert lateral pressure on said dial foot upon rotation of said arbor, and a pivot carried by the movement plate and extending into said axial recess, said pivot and said recess being situated substantially in the plane in which acts the sidethrust exerted by said dialfoot on said eccentric means upon rotation of the arbor. v l 2. In a Watch movement having a IHQYQ- ment plate and a bridge, said bridge having a perforation therein, a dial provided with a dial foot, extending through the movement plate, an arbor penetrating said perforation and pivotally supported with one of its ends v on the movement plate, said end being providedwith an axial recess and with a circumferentially disposed eccentric shoulder arranged to exert lateral pressure on said dial foot upon rotation of the arbor, and 'a pivot 20 carried by the movement plate and extending into said axial recess in the end ofthe arbor for a distance which is substantially! equal to the height of said eccentric shoulder.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

e a I HENRI ooLoM 

